Cool new hotels and attractions from coast to coast. A big 150th birthday bash for Canada. And a 375th birthday for Montreal. I just wrapped up two days of intense meetings with tourism folks from across Canada at the Go Media 2016 session in Montreal, put on by Destination Canada. I came away with some good ideas for stories and a half-ton of information about this great country of ours. Here are some of the highlights… ANNIVERSARIES Canada’s 150th will be a big deal, naturally, across the country in 2017. Ottawa will be doing a great deal of the partying, Read more
Canada
I’ve never counted the threads on the sheets in a hotel room. I don’t know Egyptian cotton from French linen. And I can’t say I know the difference between goose down duvets and a Walmart special. But when I laid my head on the pillow during a recent stay at Millhollow B & B in Meaford I was immediately struck by the sweetest scent. It was pure heaven; fresh and crisp and clean and oh-so-soothing. I had a great night’s sleep and woke up the next morning to have breakfast with my hosts, Milan and Paula Stepan. “What do you Read more
GREY COUNTY, ONTARIO – Meat loaf on a homemade bun and a local salad with microgreens. Wild Ontario mushrooms coated with panko crumbs and crushed salt and vinegar chips. And tasty ciders made with crisp Ontario apples. I recently spent three days hiking and kayaking around Grey County, then making up for the exercise with some of Canada’s tastiest food offerings. I came away hugely impressed with the depth and quality and variety of the offerings. Up and down the county, from casual diners in Flesherton to fine dining establishments in Meaford and Thornbury, this might be the next Ontario Read more
GREY COUNTY – It doesn’t seem possible. I’ve walked maybe five minutes, past an old apple orchard, through a small meadow dotted with tiny white and purple wildflowers, and then into a hardwood forest of maple, birch, ash and beech trees filled with the soft, filtered light of an early autumn day. Suddenly, my guide for the day stops. “Look over there,” he says. I look out and gaze in wonder. I know my car climbed a reasonably steep hill to get to the Old Baldy/Kimberley Lookout. And I know that the Bruce Trail snakes along the Niagara Escarpment, with Read more
Move over, Ossington. East-end Toronto is coming on strong. For years, the trendy sorts in this city have been flocking to West Queen West and Ossington Avenue. And for good reason. Places such as Boralia and The Black Hoof on Dundas and Rhum Bar have been knocking people’s socks off. I think, though, that things might start shifting east. There are fantastic places in Riverdale and Leslieville. And now there’s a great food and drink outpost in a part of the East End you might not have expected a couple years ago. I was lucky enough to have drinks and Read more
